Philleo Nash

Philleo Nash
Nash in 1951
Commissioner of Indian Affairs
In office September 20, 1961 – March 11, 1966
President	John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded by	Glenn L. Emmons
Succeeded by	Robert L. Bennett
33rd Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
In office January 5, 1959 – January 2, 1961
Governor	Gaylord Nelson
Preceded by	Warren P. Knowles
Succeeded by	Warren P. Knowles
Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
In office October 8, 1955 – October 12, 1957
Preceded by	Elliot Walstead
Succeeded by	Patrick Lucey
Personal details
Born	(1909-10-25)October 25, 1909 Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	October 12, 1987(1987-10-12) (aged 77) Marshfield, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Edith Rosenfels ​ ​ (m. 1935⁠–⁠1987)​
Children	Maggie (b. 1938) Sally (b. 1940)
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin University of Chicago (Ph.D.)
Profession	politician

Philleo Nash (October 25, 1909 – October 12, 1987) was an American government official, anthropologist, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he was Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (1961–1966) during the presidencies of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Previously, he was the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin (1959–1961) and was chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin (1955–1957).

Earlier in his career, he served more than 10 years as a political appointee in the Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman administrations, including as Special Assistant directly to President Harry S. Truman (1946–1952), influencing his policy on desegregation of the armed forces and federal government, as well as policy related to Native Americans and other minorities.^[1]

His wife, Edith Nash, was a poet and activist for human rights and civil rights.